THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF FORMER MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER FRITZ PETERSON Pitcher for the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers (1966-1976); Author of When the Yankees Were On the Fritz: Revisiting the "Horace Clarke Era," and Mickey Mantle Is Going to Heaven

Happy Birthday, Tommy Smith

Happy Birthday to Tommy Smith, who was my teammate on the Cleveland Indians from 1974 to 1976. The first time I ever saw Tommy Smith was in his major league debut in September of 1973. He hit an Inside-the-Park Home Run off Pat Dobson at Yankee Stadium. I got to know him after his August call-up. The first time we played together was on August 14, 1974 at Cleveland Stadium. I remember the game because he saved me. It was the top of the sixth, the score was tied, two out, Larry Hisle on second and Rod Carew on first – and Harmon Killebrew was At-Bat. Killer hit a shot to center, Tommy dove and caught it to end the inning.